Patent GB-324322-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to automatic weighing machines
IPC: G01G23/18
Filed: 1928-10-18
Abstract: 324,322. Voss, T. de, and Jeunehomme, D. Oct. 18, 1928. Measures of length.-A coin-freed personalweigbing-machine delivers a printed ticket giving the person's weight and height and the excess or deficiency of his weight relatively to the normal weight for a person of his' height. The printing- mechanism comprises four type-wheels 5<1>, 50, 17<1>, 17<11>, Fig. 8, to print the weight, height and excess or deficiency of weight respectively. The weight type-wheel 5<1> is connected through gearing to a wheel 5, Fig. 3, that is normally connected through clutch members 7, 8, wheel 9 and clutch 102, 103 to the shaft 100 of a load-counterbalancing mechanism. A spindle 16 is also set according to the weight by connection through wheel 15, gearing (not shown), wide wheel 13 and wheel 9 to the shaft 100. The height typewheel 50 is set by a measuring-apparatus comprising an index 25, Fig. 2, that is adjustable in front of a mirror disposed in the face plate of the casing. The index is operatively connected through cables 26 to the pivot 31 of a two-armed slidable lever 33, 35 having a handle 37 extending through a slot in the casing. The movements of the lever are constrained by guide slots 32, 39, with which engages respectively the pivot 31 and projections 38 on the arm 35. The lever is' connected by gearing (not shown) to the type-wheels 50 and is normally maintained in its uppermost position by a weight 44 suspended from the free end of a chain 42 that is attached to the lever and passes over a sprocket wheel 43 Owing to the shape of the slots 39, the initial downward movement of the lever causes a roller 34 on the inner end of the lever to engage and rotate a forked lever 20, Figs. 2 and 3, about its pivot 21, whereby the clutches 7, 8 and 102, 103 are opened and the wheel 9 caused to mesh with a pinion 49. Further movement of the lever raises the index to the height of the person, such movement being communicated through the sprocket wheel 43 and gearing to the pinion 49, and thence through wheels 9, 13, &c. to the spindle 16. The direction of the last described movement is opposite to that occasioned by the weight, so that the spindle 16 is positioned according to the difference between the actual weight and a factitious weight corresponding to the height. The shaft 16 is provided with two pinions 51 meshing with half-wheels 52, 53 fixed on a shaft 54 carryng two oppositely disposed half-wheels 55, 56, which latter are connected through pinions 104, 106, and gearing, to the type wheels 17', 17", Fig. 8, to indicate the excess or deficiency of weight. The height measuring index 25 is held in adjusted position during printing by a hook member that is formed integral with the handle 37, is pivoted to the lever 33, 35 and co-operates with a vertical rack. The type-wheels are moved into engagement with the ticket to be printed by the outward movement of a manually operable plunger 87, which movement serves also to release the index 25. Mechanism may be inserted between the index 25 and the type-wheels 17<1>, 17" to make the rotation of the latter truly proportional to the normal weights corresponding to each height of the index. Such mechanism may comprise a cylindrical drum on to which a cord or chain is wound from a drum of graduated diameter. In a. modification, Fig. 13, the machine is operated electrically. Depression of a button 110 closes contacts 117, 118 in the negative lead of an electric motor and simultaneously, by moving a lever 122, allows a coin previously inserted in a slot 3 to fall into a cup 125. The weight of the coin rocks the lever 126 carrying the cup and thereby closes contacts in the positive lead of the motor which rotates and operates the heightmeasuring mechanism. When the index attains the correct level, the button is released and returns under the action of a spring 113, the motor circuit is broken and a double acting clutch is operated to disconnect the motor from the height-measuring mechanism and connect it to the printing-mechanism. At the same time, the coin is dislodged from the cup by an arm 135 projecting from the arm 111 carrying the button, falls into a shoot 133 and in passing rocks a lever 137 whereby the motor circuit is again closed and the printing-mechanism actuated. In a further modification, Figs. 20, 22, 23, also electrically operated, an arm 177 extending horizontally through a slot 175 in the face plate of the casing is moved downwardly by an electric motor until it contacts with the head of the person standing on the platform, whereupon the motor circuit is broken and the printing- mechanism operated. The coin shoot is formed in two conducting halves 198 separated by insulating material 199 and adapted to be connected by the coin to close one half of the motor circuit. The coin in falling rocks a lever 193, 195 and allows a counterweighted arm 190 to rock counterclockwise, thereby closing contacts 179, 191 and completing the motor circuit. The support 182 for the measuring arm 177 is vertically guided and is moved downwardly by the motor against the action of a balance weight until the arm is rotated counterclockwise relatively to the support by contact with the person's head, thus separating contacts 179, 191 and opening the motor circuit. The printing-mechanism is actuated by a second motor controlled by a lever 211<1> tripped during the second downward movement of the coin.